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Parking Rules in Philadelphia, PA (2026)

9 verified parking rules for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

RV & Boat Parking

Philadelphia Code 12-919 bars parking a boat, motor home, truck camper or vending cart for more than fifteen days in any on-street space on a single block, and limits such vehicles to three hours (or the posted limit) in the 1st, 6th, 7th, 9th and 10th Councilmanic Districts.

Boats/motor homes: 15-day cap; 3 hrs in 5 districts

Heavy Restrictions

Phila. Code 12-919 (On-Street Parking of Boats, Motor Homes, Truck Campers, Vending Carts and Other Large Vehicles)

No person shall park a boat, motor home, truck camper or vending cart for more than fifteen (15) days in any on-street parking space located on a single block of any street or highway. Within the First, Sixth, Seventh, Ninth, and Tenth Councilmanic Districts, no person shall park a boat, motor home, house coach, house trailer, truck camper, recreational cargo trailer, or recreational trailer on...

Commercial Vehicle Restrictions

Philadelphia Code 12-901(3) bars parking a commercial vehicle on any street within 100 feet of residential property from 6 PM to 6 AM (except active loading/unloading), and Code 12-919/12-1135 prohibit semitrailers and truck tractors on residential streets, with fines up to $300.

No commercial parking within 100 ft of homes, 6 PM-6 AM

Heavy Restrictions

Phila. Code 12-901(3) (Stopping, Standing or Parking Prohibited at Certain Places)

No person shall park a commercial vehicle on any street within one hundred feet of any property used partially or completely for residential purposes between the hours of 6:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M., except for the purpose of loading or unloading vehicles in the usual course of business with the occupiers of the residential property, or while carrying passengers for hire. This subsection shall not a...

Street Parking Limits

On-street parking in Philadelphia is governed by Title 12 of The Philadelphia Code and enforced by the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA), with restrictions ranging from posted no-parking zones and metered blocks to Residential Permit Parking districts and seasonal street-cleaning bans.

PPA-enforced on-street parking; meters, RPP, sweeping

Some Restrictions

Philadelphia Parking Authority, Parking Violations - Philadelphia Traffic Codes, citing Phila. Code 12-913 and 12-2809 (rev. March 2011)

Code 12-913(1)(a)(iii) Stopped Within Intersection $76.00; 12-913(1)(b)(iv) Parked Within 30 Feet Of Traffic Control Device $36.00; 12-913(1)(b)(v) Parked Too Close to Fire Station $51.00; 12-913(1)(b)(vii) Parked On Limited Access Highway $101.00; 12-913(2) Parked On Private Property $26.00.

Overnight Parking

Philadelphia has no general citywide overnight on-street parking ban, but overnight parking is restricted on street-cleaning blocks, in Residential Permit Parking districts, and by the commercial-vehicle 6 PM to 6 AM rule; the PA Vehicle Code supplies the statewide default for prohibited places.

No citywide overnight ban; street-cleaning + RPP apply

Few Restrictions

75 Pa.C.S. 3353 (Prohibitions in specified places)

(a) General rule.--Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or to protect the safety of any person or vehicle or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or official traffic-control device, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle: ... (3) within an intersection; (4) on a crosswalk; ... (7) upon any bridge or other elevated structure upon a highway or ...

Dibs & Space Saving

Philadelphia officially bans saving shoveled-out parking spots with chairs, cones, or other objects — the city is firmly '#nosavesies.' Police routinely remove space-saving objects, though the practice persists culturally after heavy snowfall.

Philadelphia Parking 'Savesies' Space Saving Rules

Some Restrictions

EV Charging

Phila. Code §12-1131 allows the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) to designate reserved on-street EV parking spaces after investigation. EV charger installation requires an EZ permit from L&I. No curbside charger is allowed on any sidewalk after January 1, 2033, without an L&I permit with Streets Department approval. Chapter 9-6300 regulates EV charging equipment operation and maintenance.

Philadelphia EV Charging Station Rules

Some Restrictions

Abandoned Vehicles

Phila. Code §12-1120 defines an abandoned vehicle as one that is inoperable, has deflated/missing tires, or lacks current tags and has been parked on a street for 48+ hours. The city can tow after 10 days' written notice, or immediately if the vehicle is a safety hazard. Towing and impound procedures are in Chapter 12-2400.

Philadelphia Abandoned Vehicle Ordinance

Heavy Restrictions

Curb Color Rules

Pennsylvania Vehicle Code 75 Pa.C.S.A. section 3354 and Philadelphia Code Title 11 reserve curb-marking authority to the Streets Department. Residents and businesses cannot paint red, yellow, or white curbs themselves, even to deter blocking driveways or hydrants.

Only Philadelphia Streets Department may paint regulatory curbs

Heavy Restrictions

Loading Zones

Philadelphia Code Title 12, sections 12-1502 through 12-1517, governs commercial and passenger loading zones. The Streets Department and Philadelphia Parking Authority designate signed zones, charge meter fees where applicable, and ticket non-commercial vehicles or stays beyond posted limits.

Loading zones in Philadelphia are designated under Code 12-1500

Some Restrictions

Looking for Philadelphia County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Philadelphia city rules.

Parking Rules in Philadelphia County